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Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward will be sidelined indefinitely due to a fracture in his left shoulder, league and team sources tell The Athletic. Here’s what you need to know:
- Hayward missed Friday’s game against Minnesota with what the team called a left shoulder contusion.
- The 32-year-old missed eight games earlier this month after suffering the initial injury on Nov. 2 versus Chicago but returned on Nov. 18.
- The Hornets expect Hayward to miss time and he is undergoing further evaluations.
Backstory
Hayward has dealt with a number of injuries in recent years and has yet to play more than 50 games in a season since signing with the Hornets in 2020. The veteran forward is averaging 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 11 games this season, while the Hornets have gone 2-7 in the nine games he’s missed.
What this means for Charlotte
Hayward injuries are no longer shocking news, but with the Hornets already missing LaMelo Ball, Cody Martin and Dennis Smith Jr. and mired at 6-14, the timing could have been better. Jalen McDaniels started in Hayward’s absence in Friday’s win over Minnesota, and will likely continue to until Ball or Martin returns.
However, the bigger, looming question is whether this news nudges Charlotte to shed veterans and focus on the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. Hayward’s $30 million a year contract may be unmovable, but the expiring deals of P.J. Washington, Kelly Oubre and Mason Plumlee could find traction. — Hollinger
(Photo: Brad Mills / USA Today)
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